Foot fin



March 5,1946; BUFK|N 7 2,395,844-

- FOOT FIN Filed May 20, 1944 v EUGENE B. .BUFK/N;

Inventor Patented Mar. 5, 1946 FOOT FIN Eugene R. Bufkin, Durham, N. Jessie M. Bufkin executrix of said Eugene R. Bufkin,

deceased Application May 20, 1944, Serial No. 536,546

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in propulsion devices adapted to be worn on the feet of persons who wish to make rapid progress in water.

The principal object of the present invention. is to provide a paddle or fin-like structure which can be readily attached to the foot to assist a person in propelling r paddling himself through water as when he is seated on a float or other craft with his legs depending in the water.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 represents a top plan view.

Figure 2 is a front view.

Figure 3 is a side view.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 denotes a substantially square fin or paddle having hinge barrels 6 projecting from one edge and adapted to interlap like hinge barrel 1 on an edge of a, U-shaped foot attachable cleat 8, the cleat 8 having side walls a, a formed with slots 9 through which tie members can be disposed for securing the cleat to the foot and also having openings in in its top portion to permit the cleat to be riveted or otherwise secured to a shoe or other footwear.

It can be seen that a hinge pin H is disposed through the interlapping hinge barrels 6 and I for hingedly securing the pin o paddle 5 to the foot attachable cleat 8.

The device is designed to be used in pairs, one for each foot, the cleats 8 to be applied to the soles of the shoes, or to the soles of the bare feet, with said cleats positioned, as shown in Figure 3, that is, with the top portions opposed to the shoe soles, or the bare feet, and with the fins 5 in the rear. The cleats 8 may be strapped to the shoe oles in any suitable manner by straps, not shown, extending through the slots 9, or riveted to said soles through the openings I 0, or strapped to the bare feet. Of course, the cleats 8 are designed to be opposed to the shoe soles, or the soles of the .feet, at the ball portions of the feet forwardly of the main arch. v

The user sits on a fishing raft or on the bow of a small fishing boat, or when riding float figures and the like at amusement beaches, with the user's legs dangling in the water. The person moves his feet in a paddling manner as when walking and in this movement of the feet, the fins will depend behind the cleats 8 and will be thrust rearwardly by said cleats and confront the water on the back strokes of the feet and recede against the bottom of the feet when the feet are moved forwardly, and this latte movement offering no resistance to the movement of the feet.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A propulsion device for attachment to the sole of a foot extended downwardly into the water comprising a cleat having a, flat top and depending sides and adapted to be attached to the foot with its flat top uppermost, and a fin hinged to said top at one end of the cleat to normally depend therefrom and extend below said sides, said fin being adapted to be engaged by the depending sides when said cleat is moved rearwardly to propel the user forwardly and to swing upwardly away from the cleat when the latter is moved forwardly.

EUGENE R. BUFKIN. 

